Wheel



Feb. 17. 1925.

C. F. ERICK WHEEL Filed May 21, .1925

WITNESS: W ATTORNE! Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES L; CHARLES E. :snroKson, or BROOKLYN, NEVI YORK.

WHEEL.

Application filed May 21, 1923. Serial No. 640,598.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. EnIoKsoN, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wheels generally and particularly to wheels ot the cushioning or elastic type designed for use in connection with automobiles, flying machines, and other vehicles. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this character which is preferably non-pneumatic and which is characterized by means which gives the wheel all the advantages of a pneumatic wheel without the attendant disadvantages thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel structure wherein the load carried thereby is supported in a hung or underslung condition from the hub of the wheel and wherein means of an elastic nature are associated with the tread and incorporated with means for automatically limiting fleXure of the wheel and arresting loads and stress as same are transmitted to the wheel. p

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wheelhaving an elastic tread and elastic supporting means therefor, and means for tensioning and varying the resilient action of the wheel, all of which of said parts are incorporated with means for limiting fiexure of the supporting means beyond a fixed extent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this character which will be e-Xtremelysimple of construction and positive of action under all normal conditions and which will support varying loads in a highly buoyant manner.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of. parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which:- i

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the wheel.

Figure 2 is a side view with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the buffers.

In carrying the invention into practice, I employ a tire 5 comprising an elastic tread 6 and relatively separable side diaphragms 7 and 8. Each of these diaphragms conslsts of an inner ply of fabric 9, an outer ply of rubber 10, and an intermediate cord structure 12. The cord structure is interposed between the fabric plies of materials 9 and 10 and the cord strands radiate from the central portions of the diaphragms and are embedded in the tread 6 and associated with a steel spring ring 18 which is disposed in concentric relation to said tread. Each of the diaphragms is provided with a wire reinforcing ring 14.

The hub 15 01 the wheel comprises a sleeve 16 having an annular disk 17 and a reduced cylindrical portion 18. The reduced portion 18 is welded or otherwise suitably sccured at 19 to an exteriorly threaded bushing 20 having a ball race 21. The bushing adjustably receives a corresponding threaded tensioning member 22 which supports a disk 23. i

The axle 24 passes through the hub 15 and same is provided with a reduced threaded portion 25 having a bearing 26 provided with a raceway 27, the latter co-acting with the raceway 21 and anti-friction balls 28. The axle is provided with a raceway 29 coacting with a raceway 30 of the sleeve 16 to operatively accommodate an annular series of anti-friction balls 31. A nut 32 on the extension 25 coacts with the bearing 26 to hold the balls 28 and 31 operatively positioned in their respective raceways. The disk 17 is provided with an annular channel. 33 which receives the wire ring 1 1 of the diaphragm 7. The disk 23 is provided with a similar channel 34 for the reception of the ring 14 of the mating diaphragm 8. From this construction it will be seen that when the tensioning member 22 is rotated upon the bushing 20 the diaphragms 7 and 8 may be moved relatively to regulate the tension upon the spring steel ring 13. The disl' 23 is provided with a threaded flange 35 which accommodates a removable hub cap 36.

With the axle 2 1 and hub 15 associated with the diaphragms 7 and 8 as herein shown and described, it follows that the wei ht of the supported load is held suspened or in an underslung state from the steel spring ring 13 and that by adjusting the diaphragms the tension upon the ring may be varied according to the weight of the loadto' be' supported; This construction also serves to permit the buoyancy of the wheel structure to be changed at will In View of the fact are the might ofthe phragmsT-and 8 thereof and same ishung from the -liub.l5 soras to float in the wheel in normal spaced'relation'to the tread. This mechanism comprises substantially identical buffers 38*wl1icl1 radiateiin' a downward di-' rection ifronrthehub. Each buffer is 'pro -i vided with branches 40%0 ape-rtured at 41 to be pivotally ,iacconnnodated"by the hub and connected-with fthese branches is a barrel 42' in which ,is mounted a sliding plunger 43. This plunger is provided with a stop pin 4A:- which co-acts with slots 45in the :barrel 41-2 and limits outward movement of the plunger against the action of a heavy coiled spring 46, :This spring is operativ'ely positioned in the barrel'so'as to bear against the inner end; of the plunger and normally force the latter in an outward direction." While the, pin 44 co acts' with the slots- 45 to limit outward movement of the plunger and to hold same againstcasualderangement from the barrel L2, it further islpositioned with respect to the tread 6 so, to hold an 'elasticr foot 47 of the plunger in spaced relation to the inner wall of saidtrea'd, of the 'severalbulfersaredisposed ini'concentric relationtothe tread ofthe tire por-' tion of the Wheel att-he-base thereof or ata point approximately inlinewith the vertical centerof the wheel and beneaththcaxis thereof, Incident to this arrangementit follows'that any sudden olvundue stresses that, are applied to the tread of the wheel will'be gradually absorbed and taken up by the buifersiThis serves to limit flexurein one direction of the steel spring ring '13 and has been found to prevent serious damage to this ring and prevent"accidental snapping or rupture thereof due to excessive strains applied thereto; y

A wheel structure as herein shown and described "is exceedingly light in weight and is strong and durable and consists principally ofwparts that are quickly accessible, when repairs are desired to be made theretoij' lVhile I have described whatl deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my inven; tion,-it is obvious ,thatunanyzof the details: may beivaried without many; way depart ing from the spirit" of my invention, and I, thereforedo notilimitrmys'elf to theexact details 0r e nsn-uu0n herein set forth 'norto The plungers tread, annular anything le'ssthan the whbl'c of niydnvention limited only by the appended claims.

What is, claimed as new. 1s:- l. A vehicle wheel pi vided with a later allvyieldable annular tread, and cushioning mechanism mounted in the Wheel and freely suspended with relation to the hub and disposed in relation to the tread to enga e same upon upward movement thereof, saidinech anism including normally distended movable buffers arranged concentric with said 7 treadp'" 1 2. A vehicle "wheel provided with a springy tread, andineanst associated with, the tread to be contactedther'ebyand'iservv ing to limit upward movementtthereof, sa1d*' 'means pivoted to the hub and normally mounted to'floa't relatively of the tread in free relation thereto; p a t,

8. A yieldable tire for vehicles havmgn, .meansfor automatically preventing, ilZFI'Q- dial yielding movement rbeyond, a fixed point, said means being freely suspended with relation to; the hub; t i

4. A yieldable tire for (vehicles having means for automatically preventing its re: ,9 dial yielding movement beyond a fixed point, saidineans being freely susp'endedwith 'relation to the hub, and adapted to be support, '1 ed at a ,fixedcposition relatively of the hub of atwheel. I a. a, a 5,9 5. A yieldable tire for vehicles having means for automatically; preventing its; ra dial yielding rmovementflbeyond a fixed (j point, said means being freely suspended with relation to the hub and adaptedfto move radially of thevhubi of a, wheel.

6; A Wheel structure including a springy tread, a; hub, separable adjustable :dia

phra'gms connecting the sides of the tread with the hubfflneansfo'r moving the dia phragms relatively, "and agshock absorber pivotally mounted to the hub and associated with the tread to limit flexure thereof.

" 7. A wheel structure comprising an elastic spring m'eansfemhraced by the tread, a hub, separable flexible adjnsta a ble diaphragms between the'hub and tread I and yieldable meanspivoted to the hub, in

normal free relation to the tread; and adapt ed to be contacted thereby to limit fiexur'e 116 thereof in the application of stress thereto;

8; A wheel structure comprising adjuster ble diaphragms, a tread portionconnecting,y the diaphragms together, a s 'aring ring use, ciated with the tread portion and'arranged 120 in concentric relation "thereto, thew dias phragms consisting of plies of fabric and.

rubber "associated "with cords extending through the tread portion and around the r spring ring and a hub having meansnforadustmg the diaphragms'with respect to'each 7 other.

- 9. A Wheel structure comprising A ble diaphragms, a tread portion connecting diaphragins with respect to each other and the diaphraglns together, a spring ring assocomprising a fixed bushing and a threaded 10 ciated with the tread portion and arranged sleeve operating thereon and connected with in concentric relation thereto,the diaphragm one of the diaphragms.

consisting of plies of fabric and rubber asso- In testimony whereof I have affixed my ciated with cords extending through the signature.

tread portion and around the spring ring,

and a hub having means for adjusting the CHAS. F. ERIGKSON. 

